Kent Employment Law Kelowna
Suite 501 - 1630 Pandosy Street V1Y 1P7 Kelowna, BC, Canada

Do an employee's intentions matter when it comes to deciding whether a verbal resignation is valid? Find out in lawyer Sean Marzinzik's latest blog post. https://bit.ly/3gnX3s7... #dismissal #termination #resignation #BCcourts #employmentlaw

As it faces a potential $400 million class action lawsuit in Ontario on the issue of driver classification, Uber last month announced what it called a modern approach to supporting app-based workers. Find out what employment lawyer Fiona McFarlane had to say about Uber’s so-called flexible work plan in this week’s issue of Business in Vancouver. https://bit.ly/3rTBDVx... #gigeconomy #employmentlaw #labourlaw #benefits #independentcontractor

BC follows Saskatchewan's example. https://bit.ly/39KFXAg #employmentlaw #employmentstandards #COVID19 #vaccine

According to one CBC columnist, "if provincial governments change their labour laws in line with Uber's proposal, they will cement the notion that gig workers are not employees and that they can be denied a minimum wage, sick days, access to employment insurance, and the same rights and protections as most other workers." https://bit.ly/3udpgVX #gigeconomy #labourlaw #employmentlaw #uber #workersrights

Saskatchewan has introduced a three-hour paid leave to allow workers to get vaccinated on company time, and labour and employment advocates across the country have been lobbying for similar programs. In the meantime, some private companies like Starbucks are filling the gaps. https://bit.ly/3ftaSoj

Several years ago, we wrote a blog post on what we termed the perils of unpaid internships. The topic was particularlytopical at the time (2014), as the Canadian Press then reported that unpaid internships were on the rise in Canada, with some organizations estimatingas many as 300,000 people currently working for free at some of the country’s biggest, and wealthiest, corporations. Recently, we’ve received a number of questions from employers about hiring volunteers. Gi...ven this, and the similar issues that arise with interns and this category of worker, we decided it was time to update our post to cover both these types of free labour. Take a look! http://bit.ly/31kMRrD #internship #volunteer #employment #employmentstandards #minimumwage

According to a recent analysis, "nearly 100,000 working-age Canadian women have completely left the workforce since the pandemic started, which means they aren't even trying to get a job any more. The figure for men is more than 10 times smaller a sign that on the whole, they are not feeling quite so gloomy about their prospects." http://bit.ly/2NIJnvK #COVID19 #gender #pandemic #work #employment #workplace

"The chaos of watching employees juggle school closures, virtual learning, quarantines and their jobs could lead to more empathetic workplaces." http://bit.ly/3lq3P0W #workfromhome #WFH #COVID19 #gender #workplacewellness #employeeretention #HR #humanresources

According to a senior policy analyst with the Business Council of BC, not only is staying home attractive for some workers, it can also benefit employers, allowing them to downsize and reduce their overhead. http://bit.ly/3lj8Xng #WFH #remotework #COVID19 #postpandemic #worklifebalance

We haven't listened to the podcast yet, but this excerpt from the description certainly caught our eye: "Cal Newport is a computer scientist at Georgetown and the author of books trying to figure that out. At the center of his work is the idea that the technologies billed as offering us more productive, happier, socially rich lives have left us more exhausted, empty and stressed out than ever. He’s doing something not enough people do: questioning whether this was all worth ...it." http://nyti.ms/3kQEHjG #digitalage #technology #worklifebalance #productivity #workplacementalhealth

"In 2018, Iceland introduced the first policy in the world that requires companies and institutions with more than 25 employees to prove that they pay men and women equally for a job of equal value... Both workers and managers have reported that this job evaluation tool improves the work environment and increases women’s trust in their employers and wage policies. But how exactly does it do that? And can its success be replicated?" http://bit.ly/38poi0M... #GenderPayGap #workplaceequality #sustainableemployment

For our February Employer Forum, we turned our attention to workplace policies: What are they, why do you need them, and how should you put them into place? KEL lawyers Fiona McFarlane and Stephanie Cousineau led the discussion, which included a review of the relevant legislation and certain key common law principles, and an introduction to best practices for creating bullying and harassment, social media, privacy and WFH policies. For those of you who weren’t able to make ...it, visit our blog for a few key takeaways: http://bit.ly/2NO2LYm #privacy #SocialMedia #BullyingandHarassment #workfromhome #wfh #HR #humanresources #employers #WorkplacePolicies #employmentlaw #humanrights

As the COVID-19 vaccination becomes more widely available across the country, many Canadian employers are wondering: can I require that my workers get vaccinated? And what are my options if they refuse? In today's video, lawyers Simon Kent and Stephanie Cousineau discuss this timely and hotly-debated topic. Take a look! #covid19 #vaccine #workplace #humanrights

The Courts of BC recently announced a requirement for all people in attendance to introduce themselves to the Court indicating their preferred pronouns and titles. Lawyer Kim Darling (she/her) happened to be in court on the first day this was in effect. She shares her thoughts on this impactful move on our blog. http://bit.ly/3rV2HFl #inclusion #gender #bccourts #workplace #susstainableemployment

"It turns out that many aspects of our pandemic lives could lead to impaired executive functioning, which is a fancy way of describing the mental processes that allow us to plan, organize and remember instructions." https://nyti.ms/3bCbiFz #multitasking #worklifebalance #covid19 #burnout

Our Victoria colleague Stephanie is quoted in today's Times Colonist - check it out!

Our February newsletter is out! http://bit.ly/3up9ecw #COVID19 #employmentlaw #EmploymentContracts #bclawyers #humanrights #humanresources #businessowner #happy #employers #employees

Workplace investigations can be anxiety-producing for everyone involved: the complainant, the subject of the complaint and even the employer. With this in mind, employment lawyers Fiona McFarlane and Stephanie Cousineau demystify the process and reassure viewers that they should expect fairness to prevail. Take a look! Have questions about your employment rights and responsibilities? Contact us [email protected] today. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube ch...annel! https://bit.ly/3n6aqNV #workplaceinvestigations #employeerights #bullyingandharassment #employmentlaw #fairness

We are delighted to introduce the newest member of our team, Lawyer Blake Storey! Blake has a unique combination of drive, ambition and kindheartedness a mix that makes him ideally suited for the complex, people-centered world of employment law. Able to focus simultaneously on the means and the end, Blake skillfully guides his clients from problem to resolution without ever losing sight of the human side of workplace conflict. To learn more about Blake, visit our website!... http://bit.ly/3qKq0jW #team #Kelowna #BClawyers #Vancouver

Meet our Vancouver colleague, Ryan Macklon!!

This piece came out a couple of weeks ago, but still worth sharing: "The shortcomings in EI, flagged for years by experts, have been exposed by the pandemic, including that not every worker is covered, nor can everyone who is covered get benefits when they need them." https://bit.ly/3nzTVtb

Meet our new Admin Assistant Extraordinaire, Hailey Jaillet! Hailey was born to help people. Thoughtful, caring and genuine, she has devoted her professional life to improving the lives of others. It’s no surprise, then and our good luck! that Hailey is a natural as our Kelowna Administrative Assistant. Her warm, approachable style puts clients immediately at ease, and her positive, can-do attitude (not to mention her wicked sense of humour) endears her to her colleagues.... To learn more about Hailey, visit our website! https://bit.ly/35pQuPF

The latest post from our Vancouver colleague Victoria Merritt!

Meet the newest member of our Kelowna legal team, lawyer Sean Marzinzik! A champion for his clients, Sean is just as comfortable acting as an advocate as he is empowering others to speak for themselves. He is instantly likable and easy to talk to, using equal parts empathy and humour to put both clients and colleagues at ease. To learn more about this 3rd generation K-town resident, visit our website!... https://bit.ly/2U1qe7N

The second post in a multi-part blog series from our Vancouver colleague Victoria Merritt!

The latest from our Lower Mainland colleague, Victoria Merritt!

Re-sharing a conversation between Simon and Kim about time theft.

Is it appropriate to pay students effectively less than minimum wage for their volunteer hours? Will offering student grants during the #COVID-19 pandemic exacerbate the problem of precarious work for young people rather than solve it? https://bit.ly/3eepGmM

The latest from our Vancouver / Surrey colleagues, Victoria Merritt!

We're hiring in the Lower Mainland!

A timely post from our newest Vancouver Colleague!

We are delighted to introduce the newest member of our Vancouver team, lawyer Victoria Merritt! A graduate of UVic law school, Victoria began her legal career in Alberta, where she assisted clients with the full range of workplace law issues, including matters unique to unionized environments. Employers and employees alike can count on Victoria to be direct and practical in her advice, and to educate and empower them to create inclusive, sustainable workplace relationships. T...o learn more about Victoria visit our website: https://kentemploymentlaw.com/our-people/victoria-merritt/ To schedule an appointment with a member of our Kelowna team, contact us at 236-420-1946 or [email protected].

"We've heard from many employers and employees that it's time to kick the CERB to the curb", says Manitoba's Premier. https://bit.ly/2B1aJqo

As more Canadian businesses restart operations post-COVID, we are entering a new era in employment relationships. In today's video, Partner Richard Johnson speaks to both business owners and workers about things to consider as they reenter the workplace. The bottom line? Preparation, open communication and remembering we all have the same shared goals will be the keys to our return-to-work success.

Data on work refusals shows there's been a spike in the number of people who have formally refused to work citing dangerous conditions. But virtually none of those work refusals is being upheld.CBC explains: https://bit.ly/2B066Nh

The latest from our Vancouver colleague RBJ!

What happens when you give your employer notice that you are moving on, and they tell you to clean out your office and don't bother coming back? Does your employer owe you severance? As lawyer Kim Darling explains, the answer depends on what your employment contract says and how long you've worked there. Take a look: #resignation #notice #severance #dismissal